TOP 10 AFRICAN EMPIRES

TOP 10 AFRICAN EMPIRES

TOP 10 AFRICAN EMPIRES

1. Songhai Empire: At its peak in the 16th century, the Songhai Empire was one of the largest empires in African history, covering parts of present-day Gambia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal.
2. Mali Empire: The Mali Empire, particularly under Mansa Musa in the 14th century, was one of the largest and wealthiest empires in West Africa, covering parts of present-day Gambia, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, and Guinea.
3. Ghana Empire: The Ghana Empire, also known as the Wagadou Empire, was a powerful West African empire that existed from the 8th to the 11th century in the region of present-day southeastern Mauritania and western Mali.
4. Aksumite Empire: The Aksumite Empire, centered in the region of present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, was a major trading empire in the ancient world and one of the first major empires in Africa.
5. Kanem-Bornu Empire: The Kanem-Bornu Empire, located in present-day Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger, was a powerful empire that existed for over a millennium and controlled important trans-Saharan trade routes.
6. Zulu Empire: The Zulu Empire, founded by Shaka Zulu in the early 19th century in present-day South Africa, was a significant military and political power in southern Africa.
7. Ethiopian Empire: The Ethiopian Empire, also known as Abyssinia, has a long history dating back to ancient times and has been a major political and cultural force in the Horn of Africa.
8. Oyo Empire: The Oyo Empire, located in present-day Nigeria, was a Yoruba empire that dominated much of western Africa in the 17th and 18th centuries.
9. Benin Empire: The Benin Empire, located in present-day Nigeria, was a powerful and sophisticated kingdom known for its art, trade, and military strength.
10. Great Zimbabwe: The Kingdom of Zimbabwe, centered around the Great Zimbabwe archaeological site in present-day Zimbabwe, was an important trading empire in southern Africa during the Middle Ages.